Download Landscaping for bushfire prone areas

Landscaping for
bushfire prone areas
Published by the Communications Division
for Infrastructure Division
Department of Education and
Early Childhood Development
Melbourne
May 2011
© State of Victoria (Department of Education
and Early Childhood Development) 2011
The copyright in this document is owned by the
State of Victoria (Department of Education and Early
Childhood Development), or in the case of some
materials, by third parties (third party materials).
No part may be reproduced by any process except
in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright
Act 1968, the National Education Access Licence for
Schools (NEALS) (see below) or with permission.
An educational institution situated in
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institution, may copy and communicate the materials,
other than third party materials, for the educational
purposes of the institution.
Authorised by the Department of Education
and Early Childhood Development,
2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002.
This document is also available on the internet at
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/management/
infrastructure/default.htm
Landscaping for
bushfire prone areas
Outdoor learning areas are an important part of the school environment. Creating
outdoor environments that support learning and provide enjoyable social spaces
requires thoughtful landscaping solutions, particularly in bushfire prone areas.
Bushfires are a natural and challenging feature of the Victorian landscape. These
guidelines are designed to support school principals and childcare directors with
bushfire preparations and emergency management plans.
Well planned and managed vegetation can provide many benefits in bushfire prone
areas. It can:
• reduce fire intensity
• reduce wind speed
•d
eflect and filter embers (small particles of burning material and other burning
debris)
• provide shelter from radiant heat.
Planning a school’s new landscape
The school’s site plan can be used to develop a plan which incorporates planting
and landscaping. All external features on site need to be considered, for example,
overhead wires, existing trees and shrubs, hard areas, service areas, paths and
roadways, playgrounds and sports fields.
A school is a part of the wider community, so involving your neighbours, parents and
others in the local community can serve to strengthen and broaden the outcomes of a
landscaping project.
Fuel management
Fuel, i.e. combustible material, is a major factor influencing the intensity and spread of
bushfires.
When developing a landscaping plan, consideration should be given to fuel
management.
Consider the following fuel management strategies:
•A
void plants that produce fine fuel which is easily ignited. Fine fuel includes tree
and shrub litter, leaves, twigs, bark strips, mulches, ferns, low plants, grass,
decaying material and debris on the ground
•D
o not plant trees that are particularly combustible, for example, trees with ribbon
bark, open crown, fine leaves or high oil content
• Remove fuel resting against buildings or structures
•C
reate breaks between fuels horizontally along the ground. Plant islands, rather
than continuous runs of vegetation
Landscaping for bushfire prone areas
1
• F orm breaks between fuels vertically.
Plant in such a way that fuels cannot
form a continuous or linked ladder
from ground level grasses to bushes,
and from understorey to tree tops
•C
onsider the position and nature of
existing trees. Make sure that new
planting will not create a fuel ladder
with these trees
• I f planting to provide shade, choose
species with dense foliage and
spreading canopies
•A
s a general rule, plants which grow
to a height greater than four metres
should not be closer than ten metres
from any structure
• L ook at descriptions and plant
dimensions when selecting plants,
but also observe how particular plants
grow in your area. The list of less
flammable plants at the end of these
guidelines will give you a guide to the
grown size of plants that you select.
Ongoing care
and maintenance
•D
evelop a program for annual
maintenance and for maintenance
prior to and during the fire season
•P
lan for mechanical maintenance
wherever possible
•S
elect plants for which students can
be responsible. Working in gardens
and other areas designed to reduce
the spread of fire will reinforce fire
awareness
•P
lant for minimum water usage,
drought tolerance and hardiness.
2
Title of the Publication
Resources
There are many excellent resources
which offer general landscaping and
design guidelines, as well as particular
information about landscaping in fire
prone areas.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) and
the Department of Sustainability and
Environment (DSE) also publish excellent
information for bushfire prone areas.
Helpful resources are listed below:
• L andscape and Building Design for
Bushfire Areas, Caird Ramsay and Lisle
Rudolph, 2003, CSIRO Publishing
•S
hade for Everyone, a guide for shade
development, available at:
www.sunsmart.com.au
•A
ustralian Plants Society Victoria
lists numerous native plant nurseries
state wide. The site also features
a comprehensive list of plants
found to provide some degree of
protection during fires, available at:
www.apsvic.org.au
•N
ursery and Garden Industry
of Victoria. The site includes a
useful document, Rebuilding
Safer Communities, available at:
www.ngiv.com.au
•G
ood commercial plant nurseries
will be able to provide advice on
landscaping in bushfire prone areas.
Questions
and answers
What sorts of plants are best for
our grounds?
See the resources listed previously and the
suggested plants for bushfire prone areas
at the end of these guidelines.
Also:
• I f planting close to buildings, choose
native or exotic grass species that
remain green throughout summer
• L ess flammable ground cover plants
can reduce the speed of fire
•P
lants with compact dense growth,
smooth bark and broad leaves, low
oil content and salt in foliage, for
example, many silvery-grey leaf
plants, are less likely to burn
•A
void plants that produce fine fuel
which is easily ignited. Plants that
produce a lot of debris should also be
avoided
•D
rought resistance, growth rate, shade
provision and wind protection are also
attributes to consider when selecting
plant material.
How do we source plants for landscaping?
The environment department of your
local council might be a good source
of indigenous plants and can provide
help and advice about planting and
propagation.
Are there any plants that are fire resistant
or retardant?
All plants will eventually burn although
some are more fire resistant, i.e. less
flammable than others (see the list of
plants at the end of these guidelines).
Do we sacrifice shade, shelter and
aesthetics for reduced fire risk?
Reduction of risk is paramount in
bushfire prone areas. Shade can be
provided by trees with dense foliage
and spreading canopies, or by built
shade. See www.sunsmart.com.au and
the DEECD Building Quality Standards
Handbook, Section 8.5.5 Shade Areas.
Should we focus only on native species?
Not necessarily. There are many nonnative species that are less flammable
and more fire tolerant than others, and
that will regenerate after fire.
Deciduous species provide shade in
summer and allow light penetration in
winter and may be a better option in
some circumstances. They do require
more maintenance, and usually require
more water.
Is soft-fall (e.g. hardwood chips, tan bark,
chipped/shredded pine) a good option for
playground soft-fall surfaces in bushfire
prone areas?
Fine shredded pine bark and poplar
wood are lighter than hardwood chips
and should not be used. Mulch finer than
a pencil diameter should not be used.
Research on the benefits of using
rubberised soft-fall surfaces rather than
mulch to reduce fire risk is inconclusive.
The impact of organic soft-fall depends
on where it is in relation to buildings
and vegetation, and on the design of the
grounds. If an area of organic soft-fall
mulch is in the playground, surrounded
by a grassed or asphalt area, it may not
present problems.
Landscaping for bushfire prone areas
3
Ideally, playgrounds should be located
to the south of structures so a prevailing
fire wind (north wind) would blow
embers away from buildings. Similar
consideration should be given to the
location of kitchen gardens if fine mulch is
to be used.
Consider the following:
•W
hat is the overall risk of the mulch
catching fire?
• I f the mulch was on fire, what impact
or consequence would it have?
•W
hat would happen if an ember did
get into the mulch?
•C
onsidering the flame height would
only be a few inches, would it result
in other vegetation catching fire? If
an isolated patch of tanbark is not
connected to other vegetation, there
might only be a patch of small flame
that would not travel anywhere.
You should avoid:
•C
ontinuous mulch up to any buildings,
which creates a path of fuel from the
playground to the buildings.
How do we plant low vegetation?
Plant low vegetation in clumps rather
than in continuous strips, beyond two
metres from structures. Short grass kept
moist and debris free reduces the fire
risk.
Can we plant gardens up against
our buildings?
All material against and around buildings
should be non-combustible. It should
extend away from structures for 1.5
metres to 2 metres. Consider pavers,
concrete, asphalt, pebbles or gravel for
areas close to buildings.
4
Can our students do the propagation and
planting themselves?
Yes, there is great educational value in
these activities.
Could we develop a kitchen garden as
part of our landscaping?
Yes. Kitchen gardens can provide an
excellent buffer to buildings. If a kitchen
garden is located to act as a buffer to
buildings, make sure that coarse or less
flammable mulch is used. For example,
do not use pea straw if the kitchen
garden is close to buildings.
The following website offers some
guidance:
www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au
Suggested plants in bushfire
prone areas
The following shrubs and trees are recommended in bushfire prone areas. Remember,
the dimensions shown here are only a guide. They can vary considerably depending
on local conditions.
Shrubs
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Botanical name
Common name
Acacia boormanii
Acacia cyclops
Acacia flexifolia
Acacia glandulicarpa
Acacia howittii
Acacia pravissima
Acacia iteaphylla
Acacia myrtifolia
Acacia vestita
Agonis juniperina
Atriplex nummularia
Banksia marginata
Buxus sempervirens
Chaenomales japonica
Cistus spp.
Correa alba
Duranta plumieri
Dais cotinifolia
Elaegnus pungens variegata
Erythrina crlsta-galli
Escallonia macrantha
Eupomatia laurina
Grevillea rosmarinifolia
Hebe spp
Lagerstroemia indica
Lonicera nitida
Myoporum Insulare
Myoporum montanum
Myrtus pendunculata
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Photinia glabra “Rubens’
Photinia glabra “Robusta”
Pieris japonica
Rhagodia parabolica
Rhapilolepis delacouri
Rhododendron spp
Telopea oreades
Telopea truncata
Viburnum tinus
Westringia fruticosa
Westringia glabra
Snowy River Wattle
W.A. Coast Wattle
Bent-Leaf Wattle
Hairy-pod Wattle
Sticky Wattle
Owens Wattle
Gawler Range Wattle
Myrtle Wattle
Hairy Wattle
Juniper Myrtle
Old Man Saltbush
Silver Banksia
English Box
Japonica
Rock Rose
Coastal Correa
Sky Flower
Pompom tree
Variegated Oleaster
Coral Tree
Escallonia
Bolwarra (Copper Laurel)
Rosmary Grevillea
Veronica
Crepe Myrtle
Box-Leaf Honey Suckle
Boobialla
Waterbush
Myrtle
Osmanthus
Chinese Firebush
Chinese Firebush
Japanese Pearl Flower
Saltbush
Indian Hawthorn
Rhododendron
Victorian Waratah
Tasmanian Waratah
Laurustinus
Native Rosemary
Violet Westringia
Average height
and width
3m x 2m
3m x 3m
1m x 1m
1m x 3 m
5m x 3.5m
4 m x 2.5m
3m x 3m
1.5m x 1.5m
3.5m x 2m
4.5m x 2m
2.5m x 2m
3mx3m
2mx2m
1m x 1.5m
1.5m x 1m
1.5m x 2m
2.5 m x 2m
3m x 2.5m
3m x 2.5m
3m x 3m
2.5m x 2 5m
3m x 2.5 m
2m x 2.5m
1-2m x l-2m
3m x 3m
1-2m x 1-5m
4m x 4m
1.5m x 1.5 m
3m x 3m
3m x 2m
2m x 2m
4m x 3m
2.5m x 2m
2m x 2m
2m x 2.5m
3m x 3.5m
3m x 3m
2m x 2.5m
3m x 3m
2m x 3m
1.5m x 1.5m
* = Introduced Species
Landscaping for bushfire prone areas
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Azaleas, Camellias and Rhododendrons
These plants do have fire resistant qualities and should, if possible, be retained where they
currently exist. It should be noted that some varieties have poisonous leaves and others can cause dermatitis.
Trees
*D
*D
*D
*D
R
*D
*D
*
*
*
*
*R
R
*D
*R
*R
*D
*R
R
R
*
R
R
*D
*D
*R
*R
*D
*
*
*D
*
R
*D
R
*D
*
*D
*
Botanical name
Common name
Acacia Melanoxylon
Acer campestre
Acer negundo
Acer platanoides
Acer pseudoplatanus
Acmena smithii
Aesculus carnea
Alnus glutinosa
Alnus jorullensis
Angophora costata
Brachychiton populneus
Buckinghamia celsissima
Calodendron capense
Casuarina cunninghamiana
Celtis australis
Ceratonia siliqua
Ceratopetalum apetalum
Cornus capitata
Elaeocarpus reticulatus
Eucalyptus gummifera
Eucalyptus maculata
Eucryphia moorei
Fraxinus species
Gordonia axillaris
Griselina littoralis
Lagunaria patersonii
Lagerstroemia indica
Laurus nobilis
Ligustrum lucidum
Liriodendron tulipifera
Metrosideros excelsa
Nothofagus cunninghamii
Oreocallis wickhamii (syn.
Embothrium w.)
Olea europaea
Photinia serrulata
Pittosporum eugenioides
Platanus acerifolia
Populus simenii
Prunus laurocerasus
Prunus Lusitanica
Quercus canariensis
Quercus cerris
Quercus suber
Quercus virginiana
Salix alba sspp. vitellina
Schinus molle
Stenocarpus sinuatus
Syzygium coolminianum
Syzygium floribundum
Tilla vulgaris
Tristania conferta
Tristania laurina
Ulmus glabra
Ulmus parvifolia
Ulmus pumila
Zelkova carpinifolia
Blackwood
Common Maple
Box Elder Maple
Norway Maple
Sycamore
Lilly Pilly
Pink Flowered Chestnut
Common Alder
Evergreen Alder
Rusty Gum Myrtle
Kurrajong
Ivory Curl Flower
Cape Chestnut
River She-Oak
Hack Berry
Carob
Coachwood
Evergreen Dogwood
Blue Oliveberry
BIoodwood
Spotted Gum
Leatherwood
Ash Trees
Cordonia
N.Z. Broadleaf
Pyramid Tree
Crepe Myrtle
Laurel (Sweet Bay)
Privet
Tulip Tree
N.Z. Xmas Tree
Myrtle Beech
Tree Waratah
Olive
Chinese Hawthorn
Tarata
London Plane Tree
Simons Poplar
Cherry Laurel
Portugal Laurel
Algerian Oak
Turkey Oak
Cork Oak
Live Oak
Golden Willow
Peppercorn Tree
Firewheel Tree
Lilly Pilly
Weeping Lilly Pilly
Linden
Brisbane Brush Box
Kanooka
Scotch Elm
Chinese Elm
Siberian Elm
European Zelkova
Average height
and width
12m x5m
14m x 7m
12m x 6m
18m x 8m
15m x 7m
10m x 3.5m
16m x 8m
5m x 6m
12m x 5m
14m x 8m
11m x 5m
10m x 7m
13m x 8m
18m x 7m
16m x 7 m
12m x 8m
19m x Sm
6m x 4m
6m x 2.5m
20m x 9m
22m x 9m
10m x 7m
10-15m x 7-9m
6m x 4m
5m x 3m
11m x 5m
6m x 5m
10m x 5m
7m x S m
25m x10m
10m x 4m
15m x 5m
15m x 6m
10m x 9m
8m x 7m
6m x 3.5m
16m x 10m
10m x 4m
6m x 4m
5m x 4m
15m x 10m
20m x 11m
11m x 9m
10m x 8m
10 m x 7m
7 m x 6m
14m x 6m
10m x 4m
18m x 6m
12m x 5m
10m x 6m
6m x 3m
12m x 6m
9m x 8m
11m x 5m
15m x 7m
* = Introduced Species D = Deciduous Species R = Suitable for Radiant Shields
6